A pair of Gretna businessmen appeared in federal court Thursday and admitted they tried to bribe Harahan Police Chief Mac Dickinson into approving a permit to sell hard liquor and wine at a convenience store in the city. Jihad Hatem Hamad, 27, and Zuhair Hamed, 51, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bribe an agent of local government in connection with a program receiving federal funds, according to U.S. Attorney Dana Boente's office.

Both now face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and fine of up to $250,000. Hamad, 27, owned Harahan Cheap Smokes, 6492 Jefferson Highway, Harahan.

He opened the gas station and convenience store in February 2010 and received a beer license the next month. But the city repeatedly denied his application for a hard liquor license because of Dickinson's objections. The store is located within 300 feet of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, according to court records.

Hamad hoped to grease the wheels by bribing Dickinson for his approval. In court Thursday, he admitted to telling the chief on March 26, 2012, that Hamed was his father, a wealthy man willing to make a contribution to Dickinson's campaign fund if he changed his mind about the permit, court documents said. The FBI later determined the two men are not related.

Dickinson told Hamad he didn't need a campaign contribution. The chief considered the offer a bribe and contacted the FBI. The agency began an investigation, court records said.

Hamed contacted Dickinson and met with him several times in May and June of 2012 as the two hammered out an agreement for the chief's approval. Hamed said the store relied heavily on the sale of hard liquor and wine to make a profit. Dickinson secretly recorded the meetings for FBI investigators, according to court records.

The two settled on a sum of $7,000. Hamad gave Hamed $3,000 that was to be used to payoff Dickinson. Hamed gave the chief a $2,000 blank check and $1,000 in cash, according to court records. Dickinson turned the money over to the FBI.

Dickinson on Thursday said the city is always open to legitimate, law-abiding businesses. " I appreciate the good work of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office on this case," he said

In addition to a prison time and fine, Hamed and Hamad could also be given a maximum sentence of three years of supervised released. Sentencing is set for Oct. 31.